Jadon Sancho showed ‘disrespect’ towards Man United boss Erik ten Hag – and it would NEVER have happened under Sir Alex Ferguson, insists Dimitar Berbatov

Jadon Sancho’s ‘disrespectful’ conflict with Erik ten Hag would never have happened under Sir Alex Ferguson, claims Dimitar Berbatov.

The £73million winger has been loaned out to Borussia Dortmund after not playing a game since August.

Ten Hag banned him from first-team training after the 23-year-old publicly branded him a liar for criticizing his training performance when explaining why he was ruled out against Arsenal in September.

The Dutchman has extended an olive branch by insisting he can return to the fold as long as he apologises, but Berbatov finds it difficult for a manager without the invincible authority of Ferguson to deal with such a situation.

‘In Sancho’s case, if you complain and make it public, you show a bit of disrespect towards the manager. Of course the manager will make a drastic decision and punish you in some way.’ Honestly Ambassador Berbatov tells Mail Sport.

Ten Hag’s authority is weakened by the fact that he has only been in office for eighteen months, Berbatov explains

The Bulgarian icon spent four years at the club and made 149 appearances under Ferguson

‘In the case of Ten Hag, one season in charge of United, his authority will not be the same as that of Sir Alex, right?

‘So there is a difference. Because if Sir Alex were still here, Sancho, would he do what he has done? I do not think so. He will never allow himself to do something like this.’

‘Ten Hag clearly likes things done his way, and he showed that with the Ronaldo situation, so he clearly likes discipline.

‘And if Sancho has done something that is offensive, perhaps part of that discipline or not, then of course the manager will say something or perhaps suspend you from the team.

“With Sir Alex it was easier for him to control everything because it was Sir Alex, everything he won and achieved around him. But he has clearly worked to become Sir Alex Ferguson, so if something like that happens now with a manager who has been in charge for a year, then that authority is not as strong.”

United have agreed to contribute £100,000 of Sancho’s £290,000-a-week salary to smooth the deal financially for Dortmund, his former club. The Red Devils will receive a loan fee of £3 million plus up to £3.4 million in potential bonuses.

Sancho scored 50 goals and registered 64 assists in a golden four-year spell at the German club before moving to United in 2021 and taking over the number 25 shirt from Odion Ighalo.

Berbatov – whose Zoom nickname is currently still B9 in tribute to his vibrant United days – is backing Sancho to rediscover his best form in the Bundesliga, where he finished runner-up in the Kopa Trophy and Golden Boy Awards in 2019.

Ferguson built his fearsome reputation and legacy over a long period of time, ruling the locker room with an iron fist

Berbatov backed Sancho from his parked car to return to his ‘usual form’ at Borussia Dortmund, where he was one of the world’s top prospects

He said: ‘I think it’s a good thing to do, because he’s obviously not going to play as long as Ten Hag is in the team, that’s for sure. So it’s better for him to play somewhere where he can get back to his usual shape.

“And what better place than to go to a safe environment, something you know, something you are good at?

‘I wish him the best of luck. And I hope he can get back to the games he produces, because the quality is still there. And he has to play games. There is no point in sitting, exercising and doing nothing. So I think it’s time for him to go back.”

If you want to hear more from Betfair’s Dimitar Berbatov, you can listen to him this week Football…Only Bettor podcast here.